Chapter Text
The cafeteria was packed, everyone trying desperately to fill themselves with good and healthy food so that they would be in top shape for the games tomorrow. Elliott wanted nothing more than to finish the week and get into the Apex Games, hoping that he could either win millions of dollars or die in style.
“Hello, friend!” called Pathfinder, who was suddenly standing next to him.
“Hey, Path. You seen Wraith?” Elliott turned around to meet his robotic friend. The two had become very close over the course of the week, Pathfinder being a huge help in Elliott’s training; he had been showing him how to properly aim while on a zipline, as well as use guns like the Spitfire and the HAVOC. He appreciated Pathfinder, and hoped that he felt the same about him.
“I have not. She is probably on the roof.” Elliott nodded, grabbing a second tray. Since the first night of the training week, Wraith had been spending her dinner time on the roof of the compound. Usually they left her alone, but it was the last meal before the Games and Elliott thought he should bring her food. He filled the tray with her favorite foods, which he had learned through trial and error, and turned to Pathfinder.
“You wanna join?” Elliott asked. Pathfinder shook his head, but offered to help carry the trays. They trudged up the three flights of stairs until they reached the roof deck.
“Mirage-” Pathfinder started, as he passed the tray to him.
“You can call me Elliott, we’re all friends here.” Pathfinder’s screen showed a happy face emote.
“Ok! Elliot,” Pathfinder put a hand on his shoulder, “take good care of her, ok? She and I have been partners for a long time, and it would be a shame for you if something were to happen to her.”
Elliott laughed at first, but by the time he comprehended the “for you” part of the statement Pathfinder was already walking down the stairs. He blinked for a moment in confusion before opening the door to the deck.
The wind outside was brisk, but nothing Elliott couldn’t manage. The rooftop looked over the city below, the night sky being illuminated by the heavy street lights and filled with the sounds of honking cars and voices fading in and out of earshot. Through the buildings that seemed to tower through the clouds, the setting sun was clearly displayed along the horizon. The deck itself was small and heavily gated to prevent people from jumping; the Apex directors didn’t want any of the contestant’s deaths to be un-televised.
Wraith sat on the ground right next to the fencing with her knees to her chest. She had her eyes to the horizon, yet she waved to Elliott before the door shut.
“How did you-?”
“The voices.” Elliott lifted his chin in understanding, having remembered the whispers Wraith explain she had that warned her of basically everything. He sat down next to her,
placing the trays on the ground in front of them.
“Bone app the teeth.” Elliott made a motion towards the slop on the plates, causing Wraith to let out a small laugh.
“I don’t think that’s the phrase.” She had a smile on her face, Elliott soon matching her.
“Boney African feet?” To this Wraith playfully punched him, which only encouraged him to start listing bad variations of the French phrase ‘bon appétit’. They shared a good laugh before eating in the comfortable silence they had grown accustomed to. Elliott watched the sunset in awe as he shovelled down mashed potatoes and peas, quietly understanding why Wraith would skip dinner for something like this.They finished their food and pushed the trays aside, sitting next to each other as they looked over the horizon.
“I don’t know much about myself,” Wraith broke the silence, “but I do know one thing.”
She turned to Elliott, her blue eyes gently gazing at him. He suddenly became nervous, for reasons he had no idea about.
“I’m glad I met you.” To this, Elliott smiled.
“Even though I hit on you when we met?” Wraith turned away, looking back at the sunset.
“Yeah.”
Elliott blinked, trying to understand the feeling in his chest. He had been with plenty of girls and guys before, but this girl made him feel something entirely different. He mentally smacked himself. They were teammates, nothing more.
“Well,” he finally spoke, “I’m glad I met you too.” She smiled, her eyes still on the sunset. He couldn’t help but notice the way the light hit her, making her whole body almost glow.
They sat in silence for a few more moments, both looking at the array of colors that covered the sky.
Elliott’s alarm clock sang it's’ horrific song before the sun had even risen. It to belt out its’ final note before being cut off by Elliott slamming his fist on the damn thing. He shuffled in his bed, finally sitting up and running his hand through his hair, then letting them fall down his face to his lap. It was the day of the Apex games. It was finally here, and Elliott wasn’t exactly jumping for joy. He knew what the games actually entailed, besides the possibility of wealth, and he had been mentally preparing himself for this morning since he signed up.
“Time for chaos.” He mumbled to himself.
Little did he know how right he would be.